VACATION IDEAS

38 Gorgeous Gardens Every Real Traveler Must See!

Whether you're planning a spring trip or just hungry for some eye candy, enjoy these beautiful flowers—from vibrant tulips in Amsterdam to florescent tropical flowers in Kauai to desert cacti in Phoenix.

"I roamed the Tuileries in a haze after an overnight flight to Paris. I ended up sleeping in the gardens where kings and queens once roamed on a breezy warm summer afternoon. This was my best pic from my sleepy tour!"

"Once home to King Henry VIII, the ever-opulent Hampton Court Palace is a popular tourist destination. Its royal gardens are just as impressive as the palace interior, with blooming flowers, hedge mazes, and horse-drawn carriages bouncing throughout the grounds."

"We visited Giverny on our own with a rental car on our way to Normandy. Monet's home and gardens are beautiful and very inspiring. The little town of Giverny is old and still looks that way—it's very nice to stroll through."

"While on vacation in Vancouver, my husband and I decided to take a day trip over to Vancouver Island, via a ferry. We're so glad we did—Butchart Gardens was unforgettable. The weather was sunny and perfect, and the whole place was otherworldly!"

"The offbeat garden, Mi Jardin Es Su Jardin, in the lush small town of Boquete, Panama. My husband and I happened to be visiting during the annual January flower festival; the elaborate floral displays, amuseument rides, and outdoor nightclub draw Panamanians from across the country."

"We took a tour of the many gardens and homes of Bayou Bend in Houston. There were displays of dogwoods, azaleas, camellias, tulips, and other types of flowering trees and plants. The garden in the photo is actually in the shape of a butterfly."

"The Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park is a beautiful oasis of tranquility in the big city of San Francisco. This can be an excellent stop to restore your spirit after a day spent fighting the crowds exploring the DeYoung Museum or the California Academy of Sciences."